DATE=5/4/2000
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=ISRAEL / LEBANON (L)
NUMBER=2-262008
BYLINE=MEREDITH BUEL
DATELINE=JERUSALEM
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: Lebanese guerrillas have fired dozens of
rockets into civilian areas in northern Israel
injuring at least two people and causing property
damage. As V-O-A Correspondent Meredith Buel reports
from Jerusalem, Israeli warplanes retaliated with air
strikes inside Lebanon.
TEXT: Hezbollah guerrillas fired a barrage of
Katyusha rockets into northern Israel, hitting
populated areas and damaging property.
A rocket hit at least one house in the town of Kiryat
Shemona, which is near the Lebanese border.
The explosions panicked residents, set cars on fire,
and shattered windows. Soldiers and fire trucks raced
to the places where rockets fell.
The Israeli Army has ordered residents of northern
Israel into bomb shelters and some residents fled
south to get out of rocket range.
After nightfall the area was nearly deserted except
for military vehicles.
The attack was the heaviest to hit Kiryat Shemona in
nearly a year.
The Shi'ite Muslim guerrilla group Hezbollah (Party of
God) claimed responsibility for the assault, saying it
was in retaliation for renewed Israeli attacks in
southern Lebanon.
Earlier Thursday, two Lebanese women were killed by
artillery fire as they slept in their home near the
front line.
Israel responded to the rocket attacks with air
strikes inside Lebanon and Prime Minister Ehud Barak
convened his top security advisors to discuss any
further response.
There was no immediate report of casualties from the
air raids.
Israel maintains a 15-kilometer wide buffer zone
inside Lebanon in an effort to prevent cross border
attacks.
Mr. Barak has promised to withdraw all Israeli
soldiers from south Lebanon by July of this year.
The Iranian-backed Hezbollah guerrillas are waging a
war of attrition against the Israeli occupation of the
self-styled security zone. (Signed)
NEB/MB/gm
04-May-2000 16:21 PM EDT (04-May-2000 2021 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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